A Widow in Zarephath

Last night, as last Sunday, we were in 1 Kings, this week a chapter ahead of last week. A story that stands on its own.

Elijah followed God’s direction. Unlike some of those called, he did not ignore nor did he run away from God’s requests. He told Ahab there would be no rain, and there wasn’t. God cared for him by the brook, fed by ravens (I’m not certain I would look forward to that fare) then sent Elijah to a widow in Zarephath.

Now, if I were that widow, I would have offered the traveler a drink (surely from an excellent well) but would have been put out for him to not only request food, but when it was explained the dearth of meal, for him to have asked for the very last of theirs.

Her first response is understandable.

And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. (1 Kings 17:12 KJV)

No wood to cook with, only a couple of sticks to cook a handful of meal in a little oil.

Would you have complied? Knowing this man would eat the last of the meal and oil set aside for you and your son before starvation? Or, would you say “Why not? We’re going to die any way.” What did go through her mind?

“Fear not.” How often do we read those words throughout the Bible? Elijah said there here.

And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. (1 Kings 17:13 KJV)

He didn’t promise more, just that there would be enough. Oh, that we would settle for enough. That’s the miracle in this story – there was enough. For the three of them. That day, the next day, and so on and on.

And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah. (1 Kings 17:16 KJV)

The barrel did not overflow, the barrel did not feel 5,000. The oil did not flow as a stream, but neither wasted nor failed. There was enough.

There are several questions here to apply to our lives today.

1 – are we satisfied with enough, or do we require overflowing?

2 – do we use what we have and share with others, or expect them to share with us?

3 – do we ask that what we have last, or do we continually seek more?

4 – do we show our appreciation for enough? Or do we complain?

Sometime, if you have an e-mail address, you will receive the poem “May You Have Enough.” The widow would recognize the meaning behind that poem. Now, you’ve met that widow.